I had a wander along at Highstead today to see if I could catch up with any dragonflies. It turned out to be very quiet on the walk up and I only saw one Azure Damselfly as I made my way along. The sheep around the pond area had been sheared and a mum and her lamb looked on curiously as I passed by.
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| Sheep |
A red Kite circled lazily above and a Common Buzzard was up over the far trees. It was nice to catch up with my first House Martins (118) and Sand Martins (119) with several swooping round as they caught insects above.
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| Red Kite |
I saw a dragonfly fly up briefly from the grass and luckily for me it settled again and I was able to get some very nice views of it. It was a beautiful Four-spotted Chaser and in the cool conditions it returned several times to the same perch, pausing for quite a while each time, and enabling views from several angles as it landed on the stem at various heights and angles. They are really striking dragonflies.
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| female Four-spotted Chaser |
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| female Four-spotted Chaser |
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| female Four-spotted Chaser |
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| female Four-spotted Chaser |
I came across a Ladybird larva that I think is a 7-Spot Ladybird larva. Further along I came across a small and very spiny and bristly larva which I think could be a 24-Spot Ladybird larva. It was fascinating to see.
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| 7-Spot Ladybird larva |
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| 24-Spot Ladybird larva |
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| 24-Spot Ladybird larva |
There was a small moth tucked down amongst the vegetation which I still need to identify.
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| Moth |
A Dandelion clock formed a perfect sphere.
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| Dandelion Clock |
A Kestrel was hovering a little way away and I liked how the light shone through its tail feathers as it fanned them. At one point it veered off and flew above me and looked stunning with the light shining through its flight feathers. I did not do very well with the photograph but it gives a good memory shot of the moment.
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
Wandering along a little further I came across a striking immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly violacea form resting up, the violet sides to its thorax really catching the eye.
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| immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly violacea form |
A pair of mating Azure Damselflies landed and rested up for a while with their bodies forming the usual heart shape before they took to the air again and moved on.
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| mating Azure Damselflies |
A Black-tailed Skimmer was on the ground ahead and was a beauty. I think it might be an immature male but it could be a female.
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| immature male or female Black-tailed Skimmer |
On the walk down to Marshside for the pick up point a Common Blue Butterfly gave some lovely views as it rested up between short sorties.
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| Common Blue Butterfly |
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| Common Blue Butterfly |
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| Common Blue Butterfly |
The bright flowers of Grass Vetchling caught my eye and were a lovely splash of colour amongst the green.
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| Grass Vetchling |
I had a peep in the dyke at Marshside and could see a bright fish fairly close to the surface. I am not sure what it is and have not been able to find it in my books at the moment and wonder if it is something that has been introduced.
It had been an enjoyable walk through and I had ended up seeing a good selection of dragonflies and damselflies.
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